I saw this video of her "playing" with her horse...honestly, I DO NOT think this is safe. Of course everyone on the video's comments are all "you two have an amazing bond! I'm so jealous" etc etc
While that may be true, she's giving off an ignorant message by showing young/novice horse people that you can have your horse rear and buck right next to you safely.
What are your thoughts?

Well ummm wow. haha Personally I don't find that safe in the slightest. To each their own I suppose.... I think the rearing/bucking is what gets me. I've known some people who play with their horses (usually their older, well mannered, been around the bush and always mind their Ps and Qs) but they don't allow them to buck or rear. The most they do is play tag or something. Like one kid plays with her gelding in the arena some times and goes up and tags him on the shoulder and he walks after her until he touches her with his nose. Sometimes I do this with my mare but I never let bucking, kicking, rearing or anything harmful go about. Usually though we find different stuff to do with our horses like trail riding, jacking around, riding bareback stuff like that to switch it up. I don't mind playing games on the ground and stuff just don't let it get dangerous for you or create bad habits. It's unfair and dangerous to the horse and to you in the long run. Just my personal opinion, pretty horse though!

I never understood why people want to play with their horses in that way.

For me, I expect my horses to look at me with the "Yes ma'am" attitude. I'm not their bestest best friend, I'm their herd leader. I'm the dominant one, and I expect them to behave in control and respect while I am anywhere near them. Sure, I love on my horses and baby talk them but when it comes down to it that will all go away as soon as they show me disrespect.

Is this the gal who rides a dilute pinto bare back and bridle less, jumping? I'm on my phone with limited data.
If it is that gal, she knows her stuff backwards and forwards, and IMO doesn't deserve being chastised. Would I be comfortable with someone less experienced doing the same? No, but the gal I'm thinking of knows her stuff, and is an excellent rider.Posted via Mobile Device

Is this the gal who rides a dilute pinto bare back and bridle less, jumping? I'm on my phone with limited data.
If it is that gal, she knows her stuff backwards and forwards, and IMO doesn't deserve being chastised. Would I be comfortable with someone less experienced doing the same? No, but the gal I'm thinking of knows her stuff, and is an excellent rider.Posted via Mobile Device

She is a much better rider than I am or ever will be. But maybe the advantage I have in being an old fart is I realize what videos like that inspire others to do - others who do NOT have the ability. So yeah, I feel comfortable - even though I'm not a great rider or horseman - in saying she is wrong to post videos like that. Particularly since she sells videos to try to convince others to do the same...

"Now with over two million views on her videos and over three million on her YouTube channel, what started out as playing around in the paddock has gained her international attention, as people sit captivated, watching her FREE RIDE."

In her other video, she is jumping a massive fence bareback and bridleless. But most importantly, she is jumping it HELMETLESS. It doesn't matter how good of a rider you are, riding a horse without a helmet is dangerous. Horses are ANIMALS with a mind of their own that controls a body three times your size. They are prey animals, therefore their natural inclination is to take flight when something scares them. I trust my horse, but I would NEVER get on him without a helmet OR "play" with him in the pasture with him rearing and bucking around me. I would also never advocate/encourage rearing.....I know some people train their horses to do that and that is beyond me.

Her body language and how the horse reacts tell me all I need to know. Honestly. it is dangerous, of course, as all things we do with horses, but in the right hands and in the right time this is a wonderful tool to strengthen partnership. I see that this girl knows what she's doing and I respect her for her choices. Many of us would have lots to learn from her - and it's a shame that just because there are inexperienced people out there, who post truly dangerous videos that show their incompetence, examples of true work at liberty get stashed in the same pile.

Too many people out there living in a Black Stallion fantasy world who don't have the knowledge and ability to see the problems this might bring down on their heads. Literally... She may be fine but I hate to think of the 14 year olds who might think this is just the thing to do.
I should just mind my own business. You can't police the world...or the internet.

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